It Takes Practice

Chapter 10 of "A Sword for Wellington", Book Three of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea and continued with A River Trembles. Now the Chosen Court seeks another Arthurian treasure. New here? Save this post and have a binge read. You deserve it.

The Chosen Court stole books and journals from Lord Tregallas’ secret archives detailing centuries of research into the whereabouts of the Greal and other Arthurian treasures. Ondine accidentally tripped over one of Ladon’s spells, which had, and will have, consequences. More than you know.

Just as sudden, Ondine’s longing ceased.

Llyr broke our kiss, backed away. His gaze focused on my swollen lips. :That’s … that’s not how I wanted to kiss you the second time. Forgive me.:

I surveyed his features, seeking what I do not know. Permission? Guilt? Shame? :Forgiven,: I murmured. I raised my hand to stroke his cheek but thought better of it. :We should check on Ondine.:

Llyr echoed my words in agreement, still looking a bit dazed.

I emerged from the stacks, Llyr close behind, feeling Ondine’s distress. “What happened?” I demanded.

“Ladon left a little something for one of the lady agents. Ondine accidentally set it off.” Jasper’s red cheeks suggested more to the story.

“She was all over him,” Cychwr grumbled, glaring at Jasper. Ondine clung to Cychwr, hiding her face, her embarrassment radiating through our bond.

“I have been Ladon’s victim of that trick, or similar,” I said. “It is neither Jasper’s nor Ondine’s fault.”

“I know,” Cychwr growled. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“We need to leave now,” Jasper cut in. “Ladon will know his trap has been sprung. If he’s able, he’ll be headed here to finish the seduction. The fact that I undid his spell will be an additional spur.”

We gathered the rucksacks, the royal guards collecting the heaviest, and made our escape to the horse-cart waiting at the far end of the drive. As the men loaded the rucksacks, bags and baskets, Jasper drew me aside. “You and Llyr—” he began.

“Overwhelmed through the bond.” I touched his forearm, startling when he drew back. “How did you withstand it?”

I felt a curious burst of shame from him before he shielded it from me. “Because I know that longing.” He hobbled forward to board the cart, leaving me to wonder what he meant by that—had he recognised his brother’s touch, or the emotion?

Back at my father’s house, we retired for the night, although Ondine did not join me, choosing to stay with Cychwr. I slept alone, and uneasily. We ventured back to Caer Morgana the next day, leaving Jasper and Father to harvest knowledge from our ill-gotten gains. We promised to return in a month.

:Where are you?: Rhiannon’s pleading question reached me on our journey back to the caer.

:About an hour away,: I replied. :What is wrong?:

:They won’t let me in. Emrys—the baby—:

I swam forward in a burst of speed, leaving my Court and the others to catch up. As we traveled, I told them for the reason for our haste.

:The pouch should just … open.: Ondine frowned. :I will come with you. Maybe I can assist?:

That the caer’s greatest healer felt uncertain about her ability to help filled me with deep unease. We sped through the darkening waters, reaching Caer Morgana before nightfall.

We found Rhiannon, her white hair a floating, tangled mess, bouncing on her heels in the hallway outside the suite she shared with Emrys.

:No news?: I asked, opening my arms for her to fall into.

:None.: Rhiannon’s plump body shook with sobs.

Ondine patted her back and slipped inside their chambers. Llyr and Cychwr had not followed us beyond the palace gate. Rhiannon and I alone waited for news.

:You better come through this, you and the baby both,: I muttered to Emrys, not knowing if he heard me.

He responded with a pained chuckle. :Rhi needs you.:

:I am with her. Do not die.: I hugged Rhiannon a little tighter.

An hour later, the door opened. Emrys’ steward stood in the door way. :All is well. Both father and baby are exhausted but all is well.: The pinched expression belied his news.

Rhiannon pushed me away and slipped past the steward, disappearing into the bedchamber.

:All is really well?:

He nodded. :It could’ve been catastrophic, but they made it.:

Ondine joined him in the doorway. :Emrys sleeps as does the little one. A girl!: She smiled in wonder, her eyes sparkling. :I’ve never seen such beautiful, unusual child.:

16^th March, 1815

We left Caer Morgana. I noticed that Llyr did not have the bag holding the Greal with him. :Where is it?: I asked him.

:I left the Greal with my mother. If we find another member of the Chosen Court, we can always fetch it.:

I struggled to regain my equilibrium. :Another?:

:I’m not sure, but I have had hints in dreams. There is another who will join us.:

We arrived at my Father’s house in the middle of March to a fog-bound coast. Once we dressed in the cave, we took the narrow stairs carved into the cliffside. Heavy condensation made them slippery but at least we would not be spotted from the clifftops.

The ocean disappeared from view as we climbed. My lungs filled with the icy sea air. We had delayed our journey once already while Father continued to make inquiries about the Caldicot home.

A muddy path led from the wooden stairs to a gate in the hedge. After a time, we passed through the garden and arrived at the front door of my childhood home. Framed by twining rose vines, the stout wooden door sunk into the thick lime-painted stone. The dark grey Welsh slate shone with the wet fog and even the chimneys faded into the mist.

Before I entered, I pulled the eyepatch from my pocket and fastened it over my eye. I headed to Father’s study. He sat alone at his desk, working on the accounting books. “You still haven’t heard?” I asked.

“A fine greeting, daughter. As it happens, no, I have not. A few words penned to let me know Lady Meredith lives and is at Craiglyn House. She made it clear she had no time for me. Our borrowings from the Tregallas library have borne fruit, however.”

I sat in the chair opposite his desk. “Are we on the right track?”

Father nodded. “One of Jasper’s predecessors had paid the Caldicot cult a visit. No mention of the Greal, but they waited for Arthur’s return.”

I frowned. “That’s not a lot to go on. There’s more?”

“They would know he’s returned by the reappearance of his sword.”

Caledfwlch. “That suggests they do not possess it.”

“Yet.”

“At least we may be pointed in the right direction.”

“It’s possible, but our questions should not be conferred by post, nor would her answer be.” Father slid his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. “We should pay them a visit.”

“Dreigiau môr cannot travel far inland,” I said. “Craiglyn House should not be a problem, but I worry that I will have to leave my Chosen Court behind at some point.”

“We’re bonded,” Ondine mused, fingertips smoothing along her bronze torc. “I remember the old tales talking about shared abilities within a Chosen Court, although aside from having the same dreams as Llyr, I’ve seen no sign of it among us.”

“We should repeat that experiment of driving inland,” Father suggested.

Llyr said, “Not Ondine. We may need her healing skills if this experiment fails.”

:I would not have her risked,: Cychwr murmured in my mind.

Since Ladon’s trap in the library, the two male dreigiau môr had become stiflingly protective of Ondine.

“Llyr, are you willing to go inland tomorrow?” I asked. Llyr nodded. “If the experiment fails, then we shall have to travel by sea and meet Jasper and Father near Caldicot.”

“An extra trunk of clothing should not be difficult,” Father agreed.

“Where is Jasper?” I prided myself on taking this long to ask after him.

Father looked over the top of his spectacles. “Mr. Tregallas is taking a walk. He’s trying very hard to shed that crutch.”

I wished Jasper could converse as the dreigiau môr do. “I will go seek him out.”

Father frowned at me. “If you insist. We do have another potential lead.”

I sat down.

“In the Bishopric of Wells…”

While Father and I explored the possibility that Wells might hold further clues, the others drifted out of the room.

An hour later, Jasper entered the study, a little breathless and extremely damp.

I looked at the muddy marks on his knees, the spatter on his coat. “Did you fall?”

Jasper grimaced and sat next to me. “Perhaps.” He assessed Father with a look. “Did you tell her?”

We both nodded.

Llyr interrupted with a thought. :Jasper’s back?:

:You saw him?:

:I can feel that he’s in the same room as you.:

Ondine chimed in. :You should really sort that out.:

:We do not have time for that,: I told them both. :We must find the sword.:

Ondine chuckled. :It’s not like you need to say the words. We can feel it from both of you. He must also.:

:We will talk later.: I refocused on Jasper sitting beside me.

Jasper frowned. “Where did you go just now? You looked … absent.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You should be familiar with dreigiau môr communications.”

He nodded. “I never liked it. My parents and brother often spoke that way, leaving me out.”

“I did not realise … did not think.” I grimaced, laying my hand over his, which rested on the arm of his chair. “I am sorry. Llyr and Ondine confirmed that you were here with me. They could … feel it.”

Jasper managed a small smile. “It is good to see you again.”

My cheeks warmed. I snatched away my hand, studying the disheveled surface of my Father’s desk. “It seems we always come back to Wells.”

“We do. It is an ancient place of knowledge—or was.” Jasper paused.

I straightened. “I smell rain,” I said to Father.

He turned to face us, frowning. “Yes, yes, the fog is definitely getting thicker.” He fixed Jasper with a strong glare. “You made it back just in time.”

“In more ways than one.” Jasper pulled a muddy leaflet from his inside coat pocket. “Young Jim from the blacksmith’s came running our way. Napoleon’s escaped.”

Father snatched the paper from his hand and read it, his frown deepening.

Fear seized my heart. “Is it to be war again?”

“Eidothea, I would like us to speak privately.”

“Young man, I do not think—” Father subsided at Jasper’s sharp look.

I delivered a narrow-eyed expression of my own. “We have nothing we need to speak of privately.”

“But—” Jasper attempted to interrupt.

I forestalled him with a hand. “We might talk again, of matters of the heart, but not now. I prefer this uneasy truce rather than to risk upending my Court and ending our chances of us changing Llyr’s vision.”

Father coughed, affixing his attention on his account books.

Jasper’s hand hovered over mine. “I know what’s in your heart,” he murmured, “and I know your fear and pain.” He bit his lip. Grieving repentance surged from him.

“I do not wish to hurt you,” I whispered, leaning toward him, “but until trust is restored…”

17^th March, 1815

“Llyr, Cychwr and I will attempt to drive inland this morning,” I announced over breakfast.

“Alone with two men?” Father sputtered.

“I have spent much longer time alone with them than a few hours in a gig.”

“Imprisoned in a dungeon,” Cychwr blithely informed my father. “No privacy there at all.”

Father coughed and swallowed a large gulp of tea.

I grimaced, remembering. Cychwr had been the perfect gentleman while Llyr lay unconscious in that cold, desolate place. “No privacy at all. I do not want to expose Ondine to the rigours of inland travel when she might be needed as a healer.”

“It doesn’t make sense to have Cychwr along,” Ondine frowned. “We know the approximate limitation for traveling inland.”

I glanced at Llyr. “Just the two of us then.”

“I will join you,” Jasper declared. “If the results are not as you hope, you can scarcely drive the landau and keep Llyr from falling off.”

Llyr scowled. I sensed he felt insulted, but he soon settled, for I welcomed the idea of riding out with the two of them.

“Definitely not,” Father said. “That would be most inappropriate. I will go with you.”

On the drive, it would take only an hour or so before we reached the unseen boundary for dreigiau môr. Father headed inland, rattling past the Tregallas estate. For a while, I quailed, worried about an attack from that quarter. Llyr slid his arm around my shoulders. Father glanced sidelong, but I leaned into Llyr.

:They are likely dead,: Llyr thought to me. :There’s been no report of them since the coronation.:

I glanced behind us, seeing the Tregallas home peek between thick stands of trees. Our theft had so far gone unnoticed. Still, I worried.

Llyr’s stroked my upper arm, soothing me. :They are outcast now. No draig môr worth his salt will help them.:

I chose not to shrug off Llyr’s loose embrace. Calmed and reassured, I no longer had need of his comfort but the solidity of his arm felt … pleasant.

Father shot us dark looks. Llyr missed them, intent on surveying the countryside, the woods and sheep-laden fields glimpsed through the fog that had yet to lift.

I had not missed Father’s warning. I shifted, letting Llyr’s arm rest behind me instead of across my shoulders. Llyr didn’t mind. I felt his happiness. In the small seat, squeezed between he and my Father, his thigh pressed against mine, his arm warm at my back. And he was—mostly—alone with me.

Llyr felt content, as I did. He whisked a smile in my direction before returning to his perusal of the landscape. “Of all the places I have been—I have never strayed so far from the coast,” he mused aloud. “The land is … so tamed.”

“There are still wild parts.” Father shook the horse’s reins. “We may reach them yet.”

Our drive continued over the gently rolling Welsh hills and gradually we ascended in elevation.

Father glanced at us.”Llyr, how do you feel? You have been leaning against my daughter for a while now.”

Llyr straightened, moving his arm from the seat back. “I feel well, invigorated even, in this icy cold air.”

I realised both men’s noses were bright red. “Perhaps we should go back, else it will be dark by the time we arrive. I do not wish either of you to fall sick.”

“I’m fine,” grumbled Llyr. “The cold doesn’t bother me.”

“Well, it bothers me.” Father reined in the horse. “We passed Eidothea’s mother’s limit about two miles ago.”

Llyr and I looked at each other, wide-eyed.

“Then … is it possible …?” Llyr breathed.

Father guided the horses into a tight turn at the next intersection. “It does seem like your Chosen Court can travel further inland than any other. Have you explored what other gifts you share?”

“We all dream Llyr’s dreams, but that has been the extent of it. Ondine mentioned old stories, but I cannot say I have really tried to heal beyond the emergency spells Emrys insisted I learn. It would be nice to help others heal like Ondine.”

Llyr shifted. “Those dreams are meant for the Chosen Court, There are other dreams you don’t receive. Less urgent for us, but no less vivid for me.”

I turned to him in surprise. “I had no idea.” His grim expression worried me. His bond remained open but he had that boulder of blankness. He did not want me to know how he felt about it. “Are they bad?”

He managed a smile. “It’s not that. They are disturbing but impossible to decipher. The Lady wants us to pay attention to the shared dreams. It would not surprise if Jasper also begins dreaming with us.”

“Fascinating,” Father muttered.

I smiled at Llyr. “I am glad you can join us now, no matter where we travel.”

His eyes lit up, a small smile tweaking the corners of his lips. “Me too.”

I felt his surging hope and kept the smile on my face.

His faltered. “I am still glad and I will still hope.” He stared straight ahead at the road in front of us, his mouth a tight straight line.

I wished my heart could give him a different answer.

We decided to leave for Caldicot, near the border of England and Wales. If this enquiry with the Devenish family came to naught, we had other leads from the Tregallas library. Both Llyr and Ondine needed a little convincing to leave behind their distinctive bronze torcs. Father has locked theirs and mine in his library.

We traveled without incident from Pysgota Mawr, overland to Carmarthen and then by boat to the port near Caldicot, arriving on the 22^nd March. Llyr went off with an armful of clothes to find Cychwr and Ondine, who had made the journey as dreigiau môr.

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